Hockey: Rochdale Hockey Club mixed fortunes in opening games

Atticus Man of the match was Bjorne Brauns.

The opening day of the new season saw mixed fortunes for Rochdale, with the Men’s Firsts winning comfortable at home to Kirkby Lonsdale 5-1 and the Ladies suffering a home defeat to Bury 3-2 after last years promotion to division two.

During the closed season Rochdale Men's seconds had changed divisions from the fifth NN to the fifth NS, hence Saturday saw them step into the unknown as to form and opponents.

Drawn away at Didsbury for the season opener was always going to be difficult, as Didsbury are a well respected club across many divisions in the North West league and are a club with strength in depth.

To add to this Rochdale were travelling with a weakened squad due to injuries and could only field a bare 11.

Straight from the push back Rochdale were under pressure and within the first ten minutes were two goals down against a strong well drilled Didsbury side.

Rochdale regrouped and a magnificent break from within his own half saw Bjorne Brauns dribble to the top of Dibsbury's D and smash the ball in to the back of the net to pull a goal back.

The come back was short lived and at half time Rochdale went in 3-1 down.

The second half saw Rochdale cope much better and they held their own for significant periods of the half, but the lack of squad members took its toll and Didsbury began to play around them, scoring another three goals without a reply from a tiring Rochdale.

The game finished 6-1 to Didsbury.

Captain Karl Wynn said: “It was a difficult start to a new season, for us, but next week we should have a stronger squad available.”

The Atticus Man of the match was Bjorne Brauns.